Collapsible shipping-crate.



E. F. HAESKE.

COLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING CRATE. v

APPLICATION FILED MAY I0, 1915- Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

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lHllIlu T'Ti ump-" wibneoow v THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co, WASHINGTON, D.C.

Tani ram 'r'rar prion EIVIIL F. HAESKE, 0F SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN.

OOLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING-CRATE.

Application filed May 10, 1915.

[ '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL F. Hansnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Superior, in the county of Douglas and State of Wisconsin,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CollapsibleShipping-Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Wlll enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to collapsible shipping crates and moreparticularly to crates for shipping poultry and the like.

One ob ect of this invention is the provision of a collapsible shippingcrate which may be eificiently maintained in set up position, whenrequired for shipping poultry and the like, or which may be readilycollapsed for occupying minimum space for shipping or storing away whenempty.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of acollapsible shipping crate, constructed wholly of metal, preferably ironor steel, thus providing a strong durable device.

These and other objects will more fully a pear as the nature of theinvention is more cl early understood from the following specification,the subject matter of the claim, and the views illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device, showing the same incollapsed formation. Fig. 2 is a similar view of Fig. 1, but showing thedevice in set up formation. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectionalview on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of oneof the end frames and one end of the supporting frame used for pivotallyassembling the parts together.

The crate is preferably formed of metal such as sheet iron, or sheetsteel, though any other suitable metal will suifice, and the framesconstituting the top and side members are preferably formed L-shaped incross section as illustrated in the drawings,

but the same may also be U-shaped in cross section or other desirableconformations.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 represents thebottom of the crate constructed of any desirable sheet metal, and havingits side edges rolled to provide the tubes 2, the bottom 1 also has itscorners cut away Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 191%.

Serial No. 27,229.

and the remaining portions across the ends are bent upwardly to providethe upstanding flanged ends 3. Secured within the tubes 2 of the bottom1 are the side bars a of the supporting frame, the side bars 4-projecting slightly beyond the ends of the tubes 2 and are'bent upwardlyand connected together in a manner to provide the yokes 5, see Fig. 4:,which supporting frame is preferably formed of a cdntinuous strip ofheavy wire, or a metal rod or bar. The end members of the crate areconstructed With a frame formed of a single piece of wire or metal rodor bar, the end frames being constructed of a width slightly less thanthe distance between the side bars A: of the supporting frame, the freeends of the end frames providing the hinge members 6 embracing the yokes5 of the supporting frame to form a pivotal connection for the endframes of the crate. The frames also have the side bars 7 extending fromthe hinge members 6 to the under bent portions or loops 8 connectedtogether by the connecting bar 9 as clearly shown in Fig. 4:, andsuitably secured to the yokes 5 of the supporting frame and to theconnecting bar 9 of the end frames are the wire screens 10 of suitablesize mesh.

The sides of the crate are constructed of frames having their lowerrails 11, upper rails 12, and the end rails 13 formed preferably ofL-shaped angle iron, the respective rails having their ends joinedtogether in any suitable manner, but being disposed relative to eachother so that one angular portion of the rails will present a straightsmooth surface and the other angular portion of the rails will projectlaterally inwardly. The respective frames of the side members aresuitably provided with the screens 14 suitably secured to the respectiveedges surrounding the opening within the frames.

The side frames of the crate are hingedly connected to the bottom 1 bythe portions of the bar 4 of the supporting frame which project beyondthe tubes 2 passing through apertures formed through the inwardlyprojecting angular portions of the end rails 13 at the lower portionsthereof, and in a man nor that the inwardly projecting angular portion.15 of the bottom rails underlaps the bottom surfaces of the bottom 1when the when the side frames are collapsed inwardly when the crate isfolded.

The top frame of the crate is constructed of the side rails 16 and theend rails 17 formed of L-shaped angle iron similar to the framesconstituting the side members of the crate. The top frame is constructedslightly longer and wider than the 'side and end framesso that thedepending angular portions of "the respective rails lfi of'the top framewill overlap the top rails 12 of the side frames, and the dependingangular portions of the end rails 17 are vertically disposed over theyokes 5 of the supporting frame, and are hingedly secured to the endframes of the crate by the loops 8 of the end frainefpassing throughapertures formed in these depending angular portions of the end rails17. This manner of connecting the end rails of the top frame of thecrate" with the end frames forms an ellicient hinge connection betweenthe two frames.

lVithin the opening surrounded by the rails 16 and 17 of the top frameis suitably secured the screen l8. Within the screen 18 of the top frameare formed preferably two 10. pe i s e a nin e a i different parts ofthe crate," one of the door Op nin s being ho it ts es fit f edj y swearrein or n am nd r i n ly' os'i e ebpe n'ss wo doors are provided, oneofwhich isshown F e nd mpris s t o p ll eras d Y bars 20 having an eye 21formed at each end emew ic ye a e des ned tov sl da y embrace theparallel rods 22. extending longitudinally of the top frame of the'crateand having their endssecured as at23- in thedepending angular portionsof. the end rails 17 at a 'l'ioiritfslightly below the under surfaces ofthe horizontal angular portions 1 of the top frame and the screen 18.The

bars '20 have suitably secured thereon a screen 2 1 which forms thedoors, and this mounting of the doors enables the same to be readilymoved in either" direction for opening or closing the openings in" thescreen 18 as desired. The doors are of course provided with suitablesecuring means for retaining the same 'in either opened or closedposition.

For dividing the crate into two or more compartments, only twocompartments beingshown in thedrawings for the sake of illustration, apartition all is providedl This partition wall consists of asubstantially U-shaped frame 25 having the outward] y "projectingtrunnions '26 which project through theapertures 27 ,see Fig. 2, formedin the depending anguar portions of the side rails 16 of the top frame,the projecting ends of. the trunnions 26 being headed as. at 28 forretaining the trunnions 26jrevolubly mounted within the side rails ofthe top frame, and above the top rails 12 end rails of the top and sideframes of the side frames. The U-shaped partition wall frame 25 is alsoprovided with the screen 29' having'its edges suitably secured to therespective parts of the frame 25. This partition wall is capable oflateral swinging movement whereby the same may be positioned against thebottom surfaces of the top frame when the crate is collapsed, but tomaintain the partition wall in vertical position when thccratc is set upfor use, the spring catch'30 is provided. This catch is formed of astrip of spring metal having its ends secured to the bottom 1, and itscentral portion struck upwardly and formed with the indented recess 31into which recess the central portion of the horizontal bar of the frameis adapted to be'sprung and seated when the partition wall has beenforced downwardly to its upright position within the crate. i i

For securing the upper and lower portions of'the crate together whencollapsed, the hooks 32 are provided. These hooks have one of their endslooped in apertures formed in the depending angular portions of the Siderails of the top frame, and the opposite ends curved to provide thehooks which engage the lower edges of the angular members 'ldof thelower rails 11 of the side frames, thus securely retaining the top fra eupon'the side frames when the crate is in' folded position. i

' To collapse or fold the crate, the partition wall frame 25 is forcedout of its engagement with the spring catch 30 and swtngupwardly underthe top frame, the side frames are'then forced inwardly upon the uppersurface of the bottom 1, the top faces of the rails 12 of the sideframes meeting substantially flush with each other, and afterward thetop frameis forced in a longitudinal direction, and owing to the pivotalmounting of the top frame upon the end frames, the pivotal connectionbetween the end frames and the supporting frame, the same are readilyswung downwardly to rest upon the side frames which have previouslybeenfolded inwardly upon thebottom of the crate, and when the parts are insuch folded positions thehooks 32 are then caught under the edge of theangular portien 15 of the bottom rails of the side frames and the crateisnow in' secure folded position. WVhen settingup the crate from itsfolded operatien is carried on in the reverse order as ve described for'folding the crate from set up position. i

In forming the topand side frames of the crate, theside and end railsmay have their ends oined by riveting, brazin gior welding, orthesejframes may be formed by stamping the same from a continuous sheetor strip of metal whereby the side rails and will position, it obvious.that the each be an integral frame structure. The screens are formed asshown, and especially with the diagonal strands to insure rigidity.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a simple, strongand durable collapsible shipping crate, and one which can bemanufactured and placed upon the market at a nominal cost; and while Ihave shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, minoralterations and variations may be made therein from time to time asdeemed expedient without departing from the spirit of this invention orthe scope of the claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is 2- In a folding crate, the combination with asolid bottom, of tubular members formed at the side edges of saidbottom, upstanding flange members formed at the ends of said bottom, asupporting frame having its side bars mounted in said tubular membersand projecting beyond the ends thereof, yokes upon the ends of saidsupporting frame surmounting said upstanding flange members,

inner sides of said yokes, U-shaped end frames having their endspivotally connected to the cross bar of said yoke and having loops atthe upper corners thereof, a top frame formed of L-shaped angle barshaving certain of the flange members of the side bars dependingdownwardly for embracing the upper bars of said side frames, and certainof the angle members of the end bars thereof depending downwardly andpivotally connected to the loops of said end frames, and screen membersfor covering the openings in said side frames, said end frames and saidtop frame.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMIL F. HAESKE.

Witnesses:

JULIUS L. COHEN, ROBERT E. KENNEDY.

Uopiee of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (1."

